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The Distinguished Service Award recognizes a faculty member for exemplary service
in a leadership capacity to the university and/or community or profession that brings
credit to San José State University.

Amy Strage

Professor of Child and Adolescent Development Amy Strage considers herself "an always-wanting-to-help
sort of person." San José State agrees with Strage, who is the recipient of the 2009-2010
Distinguished Service Award.

The highlights of Strage's contributions to San José State since she joined the faculty
in 1987 include unwavering support of faculty development, tireless promotion of student
success and dedication to service learning and building strong professional partnerships.

"A special thread that runs through Dr. Strage's 23-year career at San José State
is her ongoing commitment to linking teaching, scholarship and service," wrote a nominator.
"She has provided long-term, meaningful service that has benefited the campus and
our faculty."

Through her work in the Connie L. Lurie College of Education and in the Center for
Faculty Development, Strage helps faculty members prepare their dossiers and consider
their career plans, a process she says many people approach with dread, anger and
frustration. Strage says getting colleagues to approach the process as an opportunity
to reflect on their careers is rewardingÑand it's a great way to get to know fields
she knows little or nothing about.

Students also benefit from her commitment to service. She has overseen the placement
of thousands of San José State service-learning students through local social service
agencies, community-based organizations and businesses, work for which she received
the first Provost's Award for Excellence in Service Learning.

Strage mentors and collaborates with faculty members across campus, supports students,
and forges partnerships that have yielded programs like "It Takes a Valley," which
helps school teachers succeed in challenging educational environments. However, the
far-reaching impacts of Strage's work are grounded in her dedication to service here
at San José State.

"Working at a university is not like other kinds of careers where people jump from
company to company or job to job," says Strage of her reasons for serving the university.
"For most of us, this is our professional home for 15, 20 or 30 years. It's the family
we belong to."

Strage earned a baccalaureat from Lycée Francais de New York, a bachelor's degree
from Barnard College, Columbia University and a doctoral degree from UC Berkeley.